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Driving While Distracted: A Dangerous Combination


     Distracted driving is more of a risk than most people would imagine. In the United States, more than nine people are killed due to distracted driving every day, and more than 1,060 people are injured in crashes that involve a distracted driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported, in 2011 alone, 3,331 people were killed in car accidents that involved a distracted driver and an additional 387,000 people were injured in accidents involving distracted drivers.

     Given, the ever increasing number of in-car infotainment systems which are predicted to increase five-fold in new vehicles by 2018, many are calling for limiting new and potentially dangerous mental distractions being built into cars.  According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety which released findings this month, its research showed that as mental workload and distractions increase, reaction time slows.  In addition, the study found that such distractions compromised brain function, causing drivers to scan the road ahead less often, missing visual cues.  Further, exacerbating the problem is the common misconception that “hands-free means risk-free” according to AAA CEO Robert L. Darbelnet.

     In fact, in tests conducted at the University of Utah which were designed to measure reaction times, drivers were asked to respond to a variety of visual cues while engaging in common tasks such as listening to an audio, talking on the phone, and listening and responding to voice-activated emails while driving.  On the “Distraction Scale”, listening to the radio was a 1, or minimal risk.  Talking on a cell phone, either handheld or hands-free, rated a 2 or moderate risk, while listening to voice-activated email increased mental activity and distraction levels to a 3 rating which meant extensive risk.  With these results, AAA is urging the automobile industry to explore limiting voice-activation to core driving related tasks such as adjusting climate control or windshield wipers.

     Additionally, the NHTSA notes that texting while driving is the most dangerous distraction because it requires manual, visual and cognitive attention to be taken away from the road.  In fact, according to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) study, sending or receiving a text message takes a driver's eyes off of the roadway for an average of 4.6 seconds, which is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field blind at 55 mph. The VTTI study also reported that texting while driving increases the risk of having an accident 23 times.

     If you or someone you care about has recently been injured in automobile accident it would be beneficial to consult an experienced attorney in order to answer your questions and understand your legal options including getting advice about paying for your medical bills and other damages you or a loved one may have suffered.  As always, my office is available at all times to answer your questions and provide a free telephone or in person consultation. Remember, please always drive safely!

Attorney Joseph F. De Leo is a lawyer with over twenty eight years experience handling personal injury claims serving the entire greater Boston area. He can be reached at jdeleo@deleolaw.com or by visiting deleolaw.com
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Location: Cambridge, MA, USA

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